A Hilarious New Trend: Online Comedy Video Web Series

Have you ever noticed a person sitting on a train by themselves laughing hysterically? It may be that they are a can short of a six-pack, but in today’s high-tech world of online video streaming there could be a more logical explanation. Perhaps that person is in their own world watching a hot new comedy video series on their smartphone or tablet.

Will out of control laughter on trains while viewing a mobile video become what singing loudly (and badly) in public while wearing headphones was to music? Mobile video is bringing comedy straight to the people regardless of where they are physically located. That’s right, no TV required. All that’s needed is a mobile device that can access the Internet and stream video, a data connection (cellular or WiFi), and a desire to laugh at some comedy videos. Some great comedians are expanding their repertoire by creating shows specifically for the web. Let’s take a look at a couple of Internet comedy hits.

COMEDY VIDEOS: JERRY SEINFELD’S COMEDIANS IN CARS GETTING COFFEE

Let’s be honest Seinfeld is perhaps the most bipartisan comedian of his generation. He divides and conquers, you either love him or you don’t. The good news is that even if you don’t like Seinfeld you will probably enjoy his new online comedy video series, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.

First, it’s a web series. That means it has a much shorter duration than an average sitcom shown on TV and lasts anywhere from 7-18 minutes. Second, Comedian’s in Cars Getting Coffee is actually a hilarious interview series with some extremely funny people. Third, the cars featured are as much a character in the segments as are the guests who ride in them with Jerry Seinfeld. Many of these episodes will have you kicking the wall of the train and laughing to your hearts content even if you’re watching in public.

If you haven’t seen the comedy series online, check out the “Mad Man In A Death Machine” episode. Jerry Seinfeld takes a trip across town to get coffee with the hilarious British funnyman Ricky Gervais in a 1967 Austin Healy 3000. The chemistry between these two funnymen is captivating.

Finally, whether you love Seinfeld or not Comedian’s In Cars Getting Coffee comedy video online series is a great way to get to know Jerry and any of the other featured comedians in easy to watch bite-sized pieces. Check out other episodes that include Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner, a great little bash with Alec Baldwin, and plenty of others.

LISA KUDROW’S WEB THERAPY COMEDY VIDEOS

Ever wonder what happened to Phoebe from the hit show “Friends?” Wonder no longer, Lisa Kudrow, who played Pheobe, can be seen online and on Showtime in Web Therapy. The beauty of this show is that it started as a web series and you can still watch many webisodes online and even subscribe to the series.

The comedy video series takes an intimate and funny look at the fictitious life of Dr. Fiona Wallace (Kudrow), a psychologist who really doesn’t care about the problems of her troubled patients at all. So much so, she decided to work from home and do all her work via 3-minute Skype interviews.

The funny, award-winning web comedy video series is co-written and co-produced by Kudrow. Web Therapy is mostly improvised and is nearly always involving a two-way conversation between Kudrow and a well-known guest starring A-list actor. Meryl Streep, Conan O’Brien, David Schwimmer (see below), Alan Cummings and Minnie Driver have all made appearances on this hit web series. Get

The comedy video series is quirky, fun, and for the web it carries incredible star power. It is a hilarious must see. Watch the Web Therapy clip below to get an idea of what the show is all about.

A NEW GENRE OF COMEDY VIDEOS ONLINE

It may seem obvious, but the structure of most comedy suits the shorter format of a web series perfectly. Jokes or funny scenes are often contained in a single act so they don’t take a long time to play out. Plus, comedy is generally light in nature so it really suits the less intense nature of a smaller screen.

It is time to issue a general warning: Expect to see more people laughing themselves silly on trains. The comedians are coming and life as you know it on the Internet is about to get a whole lot funnier.

Who’s your favorite comedian and would you like to see them do a web series? What are your favorite comedy videos?

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About The Author

Geoff is a globe-trotting New Zealand filmmaker and transmedia specialist working on multiple feature films while contributing to the RealPlayer blog. His groundbreaking work with interactive video content is fueled by his passion for creating technological connections between audiences and content providers. Geoff is the founder of the daily creative blog Seven Sentences, and also loves rugby, good food and three-legged dogs.